Minority Marrow Needed

Crame's husband Floyd convinced her to go to the doctor. "We thought maybe she was low on iron and a few pills or supplements could fix it," he said. "But on June 30th our lives changed."

Amy Crame was diagnosed with leukemia. "To hear that news and looking at my wife laying down in the hospital was devastating," said Floyd.

The Crames have two daughters, Allison, 6, and Ashley, 3. "It's hard," said Floyd. "They know mommy is sick, but I don't think they really understand."

Amy has been through four rounds of chemotherapy, but her doctors say she now needs a bone marrow transplant. "They told us probably from the beginning that because of my mixed background it's going to be difficult to find a match," she said.

Amy is Hispanic and Filipino. There are simply not a lot of minorities on the national bone marrow registry.

"There's about 7 million people on the registry. About 73 percent of those are Caucasian, the reminder are divided amongst all minorities," said Liz Ustick with BloodSource. "I think it's mainly because people just aren't aware."

The Crames and BloodSource are holding a bone marrow drive in Stockton on Saturday, November 22. "We're trying to get the word out to recruit more minorities," said Amy.

"We would love to find a match for Amy," said Floyd. "But we also want to give that next leukemia patient a bigger chance. I think if someone realizes that they can help someone and this is about the easiest way they can save a life I think people will do it."

Bone marrow donors have to be between the ages of 18 and 60, willing to donate to any patient in need, and able to meet health guidelines.

Amy Crame's Hope Marrow Donor Drive:
Saturday, November 22
Financial Center Credit Union
4603 N. Pershing
Stockton, CA
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

For more information, call Liz Ustick (916-) 453-3797 or
1 (800) MARROW-2.